So this is the new year. What does DC have planned? Let’s find out.
10. On the road again
When considering classic DC runs of the 70s, few are held in as high an esteem as the O’Neil/Adams Green Lantern/Green Arrow. It is insane, insane that this is the first time that this era is collected in its entirety. While this run is certainly dated, it is a fantastic example of updating characters without changing who they are at the core, and an example of bringing real life issues into a superhero comic.
GREEN LANTERN/GREEN ARROW: HARD-TRAVELING HEROES OMNIBUS
Written by DENNIS O’NEIL
Art by NEAL ADAMS, MIKE GRELL, and others
Cover by NEAL ADAMS
$125.00 US | 1,336 pages | 7 1/16″ x 10 7/8″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-77952-573-4
ON SALE 3/19/24The renowned Hard-Traveling Heroes saga is collected in its entirety for the first time ever, with over two dozen never-before-collected stories, and nearly as many never-before-collected in color!
Collects Green Lantern #76-87, 89-123, Worlds Finest Comics #201, and stories from Brave and the Bold #100, DC Special-Series #1, DC Super-Stars #17, The Flash #218-224, #226-228, #230-231, #233-234, #237-238, #240-246, Green Lantern 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1, and Worlds Finest Comics #210, #255, with a brand-new introduction by Mike Grell.
9. The start of Hypertime
One of the things that set apart the late 90s/early 00s at DC was the idea of Hypertime. This is the way that DC allowed continuity to be less rigid; it’s one of the best things that DC had going for it, and they sort of tossed it all away. But it all begins here, in a semi-sequel to “Kingdom Come” which has some amazing stuff in it. Mark Waid has had some not great things to say about this book, but don’t tell the DC3cast’s Zach Wilkerson that. This is a really good and fun and should absolutely belong on any serious DC fan’s shelf.
THE KINGDOM: THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION
Written by MARK WAID
Art by JERRY ORDWAY, ARIEL OLIVETTI, MIKE ZECK, and others
Cover by MIKE ZECK and JOHN BEATTY
$49.99 US | 288 pages | 7 1/16″ x 10 7/8″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-77952-565-9
ON SALE 2/20/24Twenty years after the events of Kingdom Come, a survivor of the Kansas disaster is granted the power of the gods to become Gog. Launched back through time, he has only one mission: kill Superman! The Kingdom: The 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition collects New Year’s Evil: Gog #1, The Kingdom #1-2, The Kingdom: Son of the Bat #1, The Kingdom: Nightstar #1, The Kingdom: Offspring #1, The Kingdom: Kid Flash #1, and The Kingdom: Planet Krypton #1. Featuring a brand-new introduction by Mark Waid, the original series outline, and much more!
8. An alternate timeline appears
For comic fans of a certain age, the death of Jason Todd was a flashpoint. The decision to let the fans decide Jason’s fate was a ballsy one for DC, and for years people have wondered what it would’ve looked like if the fans voted differently. Well, DC is finally giving folks a chance to read that alternate version, as least for one issue, when they publish this. While this will likely only be a few pages of difference, I’m looking forward to checking this out.
Continued belowBATMAN #428: ROBIN LIVES!
Written by JIM STARLIN
Art by JIM APARO and MIKE DeCARLO
Cover by MIKE MIGNOLA
Foil variant cover by MIKE MIGNOLA ($7.99 US)
Blank sketch variant
$4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 12/12/23What if one of the darkest hours in Batman’s crime-fighting career never happened? Thirty-five years ago, fans voted on Jason Todd’s fate after his brutal encounter with The Joker, which set Jason on the path to becoming the gun-toting vigilante Red Hood. But suppose fans had voted differently…DC Comics transports you back in time with this special “faux-simile” edition of Batman #428 in which Robin lives!
Featuring pages reconstructed from artist Jim Aparo’s alternate art boards –which have been plucked from the DC vault and fully restored and remastered –this reedited version of “A Death in the Family, Book Three” turns the Dark Knight’s greatest tragedy into a moment of triumph. Adding to the immersive authenticity of this alternate-history comic book, this version includes all the ads from the original 1988 edition plus a rewritten letters column.
7. The future, Trinity?
This summer’s “Wonder Woman” #800 introduced a future timeline where Trinity, daughter of Wonder Woman, Damian Wayne, and Jon Kent are the new, ahem, trinity, of the DC Universe. It was the best part of the issue, and the tease that made Tom King’s “Wonder Woman” run exciting. This special reprints that story and adds to it, which is good, because “Wonder Woman” itself hasn’t really touched this stuff since.
TRINITY SPECIAL #1
Written by TOM KING
Art by BELÉN ORTEGA and DANIEL SAMPERE
Cover by DANIEL SAMPERE
Variant covers by JORGE JIMENEZ and BELÉN ORTEGA
1:25 variant cover by MITCH GERADS
1:50 variant cover by EVAN “DOC” SHANER
$5.99 US | 48 pages | Variant $6.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 1/30/24Featuring DC’s brightest new star, Trinity! Discover Lizzie’s earliest adventures as she takes the world of heroes by storm! Reprinting the character’s first appearance alongside hilarious tales of the little Amazon and her Super Son babysitters, this special will be an instant classic for fans old and new. Plus, a brand-new story from the all-star creative team behind Wonder Woman that will tease the future of Diana’s daughter!
6. 10/10 title, no notes
This is on the list for its title. It’s a very funny one, and it’s a good name for a Valentine’s Day special, especially one based off of rom-coms. That’s it. That’s the pitch.
DC’S HOW TO LOSE A GUY GARDNER IN 10 DAYS
Written by MARGUERITE SAUVAGE, DENNIS HOPELESS, AARON WALTKE, BRENDAN HAY, GEORGE MANN, DANNY
LORE, ALEX GALER, and others
Art by MARGUERITE SAUVAGE, IVAN SHAVRIN, M.L. SANAPO, BALDEMAR RIVAS, TED BRANDT & RO STEIN,
LEONARDO RODRIGUES, and others
Cover by AMANDA CONNER
Variant cover by ARIEL DIAZ
Variant cover by CHRISTIAN WARD
1:25 variant cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
$9.99 US | 80 pages | Prestige | One-Shot | (all covers are card stock)
ON SALE 2/6/24Romance is rarely a simple affair—love is almost always followed by some sort of conflict. Whether you’re Plastic Man twisting yourself into knots trying to please someone, or the Flash traveling back in time to make a catastrophic 50 first dates perfect, or even a lonely robot who just can’t seem to find love unless it’s mail from a computer screen, like Red Tornado, love actually is…a pain in the 27 dresses. So in the grand tradition of these dating conundrums a la rom-coms of the ’90s and ’00s, we are proud to present eight new stories about love and trying to find it in this zany world.
5. A return
One of the most critically acclaimed DC books of the past couple of years has been “John Constantine, Hellblazer” by Si Spurrier and Aaron Campbell. It’s not a surprise that DC is bringing the duo back for a new miniseries, nor that the issues will be oversized. It’s a little bit of a surprise that this is being billed as Black Label, because who knows what that even means any more.
Continued belowJOHN CONSTANTINE, HELLBLAZER: DEAD IN AMERICA #1
Written by SI SPURRIER
Art and cover by AARON CAMPBELL
Variant cover by JOCK
Variant cover by SEAN PHILLIPS
1:25 variant cover by MATIAS BERGARA
$4.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 8 | (all covers are card stock)
ON SALE 1/16/24At last, as you demanded: The celebrated creative team of Si Spurrier and Aaron Campbell have returned to Hellblazer! John Constantine has cheated death once again—but his heart’s not beating, his body is decaying, and he, his friend Nat, and his son Noah are on the run in America, wanted for murder. Naturally, it’s all John’s fault—it always is.
But as it turns out, Dream himself needs John’s help. Something terrible has taken root in America, and it’s using the sand from Dream’s pouch to impose its will. If John can put a stop to it, he might be able to parlay that favor into a chance to save all their lives—but he’s going to need help from someone he hasn’t spoken to in years. Someone he wasn’t always…all that kind to. Someone…or some…Thing?
Spurrier and Campbell’s first run on Hellblazer was the best-reviewed comic of 2020, reintroducing the character to a new generation, and their second act, told in extra-length 28-page issues, is ambitious and unmissable!
4. Dream a little Dreamer
Every now and then, there’s a character that begins in TV and migrates over to comics, with the most recent being Dreamer, introduced in Supergirl. The character has appeared in some DC books already, and this OGN is written by Nicole Maines, the actress who played the character on television, much like her other appearances have been. I love how committed Maines seems to the character and how DC is letting Maines take the reins on her appearances. However, for the character to eventually becomes a DC staple, some other creators will have to get a shot. It’ll happen eventually, I’m sure, because otherwise an interesting new character will be relegated to just gimmick appearances.
BAD DREAM: A DREAMER STORY
Written by NICOLE MAINES
Art and cover by RYE HICKMAN
$16.99 US | 208 pages | 6″ x 9″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-77951-045-7
ON SALE 4/2/24Dreamer’s origin story has finally arrived, featuring characters from Galaxy: The Prettiest Star in DC’s first YA crossover!!
Nia Nal’s spent her whole life taking a back seat to her older sister, Maeve, who’s expected to inherit their mother’s Naltorian powers—the ability to see the future through dreams. But when Nia starts having visions of the future, she must suppress her powers to protect her relationship with her sister. There’s only one problem: Nia can’t stay awake forever…
From actress, activist, and writer Nicole Maines, who originated the role of Dreamer—the first trans superhero on TV—and artist Rye Hickman comes the highly anticipated origin story of a girl who must accept her destiny to discover she’s more powerful than she could ever dream of.
3. A look inside the World’s Finest corner
Makr Waid’s “World’s Finest” books have been these interesting little flashback titles, and this annual is taking the opportunity to focus in on some of the characters that haven’t had enough pages in the main books. Of particular interest to me here are the stories focused on Metamorpho, who had an arc earlier this year in “World’s Finest,” as well as Bumblebee, an often forgotten Titan. The only downside of this annual is that Waid is not the one writing the stories, instead farming out those duties to others. While some of those are folks I greatly enjoy, a couple may not be up to snuff. But the art, marone: Jorge Fornes, Rosi Kämpe, my oh my.
BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST 2024 ANNUAL
Written by MARK WAID, CULLEN BUNN, STEPHANIE WILLIAMS, DENNIS CULVER, and CHRISTOPHER CANTWELL
Art by EDWIN GALMON, ROSI KÄMPE, TRAVIS MERCER, and JORGE FORNES
Cover by DAN MORA
Variant covers by JOHN GIANG and JAMAL CAMPBELL
1:25 variant cover by GERALD PAREL
1:50 variant cover by MARK SPEARS
$4.99 US | 48 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 1/30/24It’s the world’s finest annual! As the battle against Magog rages on Earth-22, Batman and Superman discover a surprising secret by way of the 5th dimension! Meanwhile, Metamorpho’s story picks up after the events of the Elementary arc as our hero journeys deep within an ancient tomb that may have a hidden, deadly connection to his secret origin! Plus, Batman recruits the Challengers of the Unknown for a top-secret mission, and a special, sizzling story stars the Teen Titans’ most buzzworthy member, Bumblebee! It’s a world tour of the World’s Finest in this first-ever series annual, curated by World’s Finest architect Mark Waid!
2. A continued success
DC’s recent Black History Month offerings have been impressive, and this book, which kicks off the month, has a fantastic run of talent attached, including a new “Far Sector” stoy from the original team of N.K. Jemisin and Jamal Campbell, Khary Randolph, Tony Akins, Brandon Thomas, and more. DC has really made Black History Month and Pride Month cornerstones of their publishing lines, and I hope to see that continue.
Continued belowDC POWER 2024
Written by N.K. JEMISIN, JOHN RIDLEY, BRANDON THOMAS, LAMAR GILES, SHAWN MARTINBROUGH, CHERYL LYNN EATON, and ALITHA MARTINEZ
Art by JAMAL CAMPBELL, EDWIN GALMON, KHARY RANDOLPH, DENYS COWAN, TONY AKINS, ASIAH FULMORE, and ALITHA MARTINEZ
Cover by CHASE CONLEY
Variant covers by JAMAL CAMPBELL and DENYS COWAN
1:25 variant cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
$9.99 US | 104 pages | Prestige | One-Shot | (all covers are card stock)
ON SALE 1/30/24DC Power returns for round two with brand-new stories spotlighting Black characters from across the DC Universe by an all-star cast of writers and artists! N.K. Jemisin and Jamal Campbell return to the Hugo Award–winning world of Far Sector for an epilogue featuring the first meeting between Jo Mullein and John Stewart! The Signal, Duke Thomas, finds inspiration from an unlikely ally. Crispus Allen searches for purpose outside of being the Spectre—and goes to Renee Montoya for guidance! Thunder and Lighting (Anissa and Jennifer Pierce), cause sparks to fly at a community event crashed by the Condiment King; Raphael Arce learns the secret origin of the original Bloodwynd; Val-Zod, Earth-2’s Superman, contemplates the balance between his pacifist philosophy and protecting the people of his universe; and Nubia teams up with…Mr. Mxyzptlk?! All these stories and more, just in time for Black History Month!
1. Lights, Camera, Aaron
The start of “Superman Superstars” is here, with new DC writer Jason Aaron taking the first Superman story of his career. It’s a Bizarro story, which is sort of a bummer (sorry, Bizarro heads), but the excitement of Aaron is more than enough to carry this through. John Timms is an interesting partner for Aaron, and I’m excited to see how these two pair together. Hopefully, this is not the end of Aaron writing Superman once this three-issue arc wraps up, and hopefully he gets to write some less annoying villains at some point, too.
ACTION COMICS #1061
Written by JASON AARON
Art and cover by JOHN TIMMS
Variant covers by CHRIS BACHALO, KAARE ANDREWS, JORGE JIMENEZ, and JOËLLE JONES
1:25 variant cover by NATHAN SZERDY
1:50 variant cover by PAOLO RIVERA
1:100 variant cover by TOM REILLY
$4.99 US | 40 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 1/9/24
THE WIZARD, BIZARRO!
Jason Aaron writes Superman for the very first time, teaming up with all-star artist John Timms to present a startling new vision of the Man of Steel’s strangest foe. When Superman’s doppelgänger discovers a dark secret about himself, it unleashes the most dangerous version of Bizarro the world has ever seen.
For the full solicits, check out Newsarama.
